Britain, other NATO countries, and Israel partner in what’s going on, all sovereign independent nations threatened. Russia and China represent the final frontier against Washington’s drive for global hegemony.

Both countries are on the US target list for regime change – by war if other strategies and tactics fail.

Trade war with China is all about wanting its aim to become a global economic, industrial, and technological powerhouse undermined – the trade deficit a sideshow compared to targeting China’s rise while America declines.

Attempts by Republicans and Dems to change things to the US advantage over China haven’t worked, the same true for its agenda against Russia and Iran. Despite sanctions war on the Russian Federation, its economy is growing.

Iran intends selling around three million barrels of crude on its energy bourse to private companies, bypassing US sanctions, transactions to be conducted in foreign or domestic currencies, according to its oil minister Bijan Zangeneh.

The Trump regime is going all-out to try undermining Russia’s Nord Stream 2 pipeline project, construction well underway, to be completed by late 2019 or early 2020.

It’ll be the world’s longest underwater pipeline, able to deliver 55 billion cubic meters of natural gas from beneath the Baltic Sea, its capacity to be doubled by an additional line.”

Russia has the world’s largest natural gas reserves. Its proximity to European countries makes it a natural energy partner.

European companies involved in the project include France’s Engie, Austria’s OMV AG, Germany’s Uniper and Wintershall, Swiss-based Allseas Group, and Italy’s Saipem, along with Royal Dutch Shell. Brussels strongly supports the project.

It’ll run from Russia’s border, below the Baltic Sea to Germany, crossing Russian and German waters, along with economic zones of Russia, Finland, Sweden, Denmark and Germany – able to supply around 70% of Russian natural gas to EU countries when completed.

Trump regime Russophobes lied claiming it’ll undermine European energy security and stability. Polar opposite is true. It’ll be an economic and energy boon for countries benefitting from its operations.

According to the German publication Handelsblatt, the Trump regime threatened to impose sanctions on two European companies involved in Nord Stream 2 construction – Allseas Group and Saipem, perhaps others as well.

Work by Allseas continues. Saipem completed its part of the project. In December, US House members passed a non-binding resolution opposing Nord Stream 2 with strong bipartisan support – calling it a “drastic step backwards for European energy security and United States interests.”

It’s a boon for Europe, Russian gas far cheaper and more readily available than US liquified natural gas (LNG) – thousands of miles distant from EU markets.

The House resolution called on Trump to “use all available means to support European energy security through a policy of diversification to lessen reliance” on Russia.

Last year, Trump threatened trade war with European countries unless they bought more US LNG. Pressuring, bullying, and threatening companies involved in the project is how he aims to increase US exports.

According to RT, “German authorities are reportedly trying to exert their influence on Washington to stop its interference in European energy policies.”

The EU most often bends to Washington’s will. It’s unclear if things will go this way for Nord Stream 2. Its completion is greatly to Europe’s advantage. U-turning to please the US would be self-defeating.

A Final Comment

Britain is joined at the hip with Washington’s geopolitical agenda, including its hostility toward Russia.

In late December, the UK Office of Communications (Ofcom) falsely claimed RT “fail(ed) to preserve due impartiality” in seven of its news programs, calling it “a serious failure of compliance with our broadcasting rules” – prohibiting truth-telling on major domestic and geopolitical issues.

RT responded sharply saying it’s “extremely disappointed with the findings of Ofcom following the results of the investigations, most of which were initiated by the regulator itself, and not by the audience,” adding:

“We broadcast in the UK in accordance with the rules established by the British regulator, and always strive to comply with them.”

“Ofcom, probably, did not fully take into account the arguments we gave during the investigations. The regulator did not pay enough attention to the rights of both RT and its viewers.”

If Ofcom banishes RT, Russia will respond with restrictive measures against UK media in the country, according to Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, saying:

“(A)ttempts to smear (RT’s) journalists (will) leave us no choice but to respond in equal. Russia warned them. Repeatedly.”

RT’s editor-in-chief Margarita Simonyan accused Ofcom of operating as a political tool of the UK government – integrity and impartiality ruled out in its decision-making.

Stephen Lendman was born in 1934 in Boston, MA. In 1956, he received a BA from Harvard University. Two years of US Army service followed, then an MBA from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania in 1960. After working seven years as a marketing research analyst, he joined the Lendman Group family business in 1967. He remained there until retiring at year end 1999. Writing on major world and national issues began in summer 2005. In early 2007, radio hosting followed. Lendman now hosts the Progressive Radio News Hour on the Progressive Radio Network three times weekly. Distinguished guests are featured. Listen live or archived. Major world and national issues are discussed. Lendman is a 2008 Project Censored winner and 2011 Mexican Journalists Club international journalism award recipient.

About Stephen

Stephen Lendman was born in 1934 in Boston, MA. In 1956, he received a BA from Harvard University. Two years of US Army service followed, then an MBA from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania in 1960. After working seven years as a marketing research analyst, he joined the Lendman Group family business in 1967.